Flash slideshow won't work

[generalchaos316]

Which one works fine? Vanilla HTML or Vanilla PHP or both? And which one is on the server right now?

To my knowledge, SWF files are processed locally (on the computer) via a plugin used on whatever browser a user happens to be using so it is less likely that the problem is server side issue with the SWF.

However, it has been my understanding that any .PHP file does require server side applications to work properly...so there could be some compatibility issues on your host's end of things.

If you send me links to working versions of the files as well as links to the non-working ones I can try them on my end just to see what happens. Also, deleting cookies and temp files are everybody's best friend when troubleshooting web pages that don't load properly too

[Wogan_Mike]

I did vanilla html and php. I published the flash file so it was a blank html page with just the slideshow on it. I then made a copy of that file and saved as a php. I uploaded both the vanilla html and php pages to my server but ony the html page worked. So naturally I assumed that the problem was occuring because the page is a php. But after changing it back to an html it still didn't work. So no I once again have no idea why it doesn't work.

I took the vanilla pages off my server but I will put them back on and PM you the links.

Thanks for all your help.

[generalchaos316]

If you changed the PHP file to HTML (and back again) while it was residing on your hoster's server, then it would appear that perhaps your provider is freaking out at the mere sight of a PHP file. Have you ever successfully uploaded any PHP file to your provider before?

I am not terribly familiar with how PHP works (either client or server side) but based on what you described...it sounds like the problem is originating as soon as the PHP file touches their hard drives. Thus, something to doublecheck would be if your provider even supports PHP. Another thing: some providers do support PHP, but only include it in a slightly more expensive package...like mine :-/

[Wogan_Mike]

I know that they support php because like I said page was php and worked, the only part that didn't work on the was the slideshow swf. Plus I've hosted other websites with them and used php guestbooks which work fine.

generalchaos316, I sent you a PM with the links if you want to check it out....

Thanks.

[generalchaos316]

Checking out the source code for that page makes me remember why I wanted to start learning from scratch Dreamweaver has inserted so much stuff that I can't decypher what is going on in the code. Combine that with my non-knowledge about PHP and other kinds of scripts and you have a recipe for confusion. After pouring over the code for about 30 mins and comparing that to code based on the recommendation on ?http://animation.about.com/od/flashanimationtutorials/qt/embedswfwebpage.htm I cannot come to any conclusions.

At this point, I would start asking myself where is the PHP element really coming in here? I have no idea about how you plan on laying out the rest of your site...but strictly from a formatting point of view I see (from top to bottom:

- A background image
- A jpg banner
- 4 gif navigation buttons
- An announcements section
- 2 boxes at the bottom, one text one SWF
- Footer

From a stylistic point of view I see:
- Background image, not tile, at top of page
- Centered jpg (banner)
- Centered table w/ 4 cells (nav)
- A text area (announcements)
- A 2 cell table, one with text other with movie
- Text (footer)

All of which can be coded pretty easily in HTML. As a firm believer in the KISS rule, I have to ask...why the PHP?

[Wogan_Mike]

The reason for using php was so I could insert a .txt file into the announcements section. Thus making it easier to add new announcements without having to edit the source code of the page. A super-simple content management system I guess..

Thanks again for looking at that I really appreciate it!

[generalchaos316]

Hehe, but isn't Dreamweaver a WYSIWYG editor? Seems like the "ease" of using PHP to access a .txt file is quickly swallowing up all the time that would have been saved just modifying the HTML file in Dreamweaver.

In either case, I am out of ideas...but wish you the best of luck if you go the PHP route. Let me know if you run into any issues should you decide to do a HTML version instead.

[Wogan_Mike]

Yes Dreamweaver is a WYSIWYG editor, howver, a buddy of mine who has zero dreamweaver/html knowledge wanted to be able to edit the announcements as well and I figured that would be the easiest way.

Also, great news...I was able to get it working with both html and php! I just deleted all the code dreamweaver added and used the very basic <embed> tag and it works perfectly now. I guess Dreamweaver doesn't always know best. You can go to the main page I sent you and check it out if you want.

Thanks again for everything!
Mike W.

[narian]

gratz

[generalchaos316]

Well done. Yeah, the WYSIWYG editors really can throw a bunch of crap into the mix. Glad you got it resolved.